first purchase for my vintage 2 ch system

[danger boy]

Here is the first part of the vintage 2 ch system i am putting together. I knew from the beginning I didn't want anything "hi fi" exactly. I wanted to do this project for under $500. Music only rig.

This is a late 70's Yamaha Natural Sound stereo amp CA-610II. Says it's 50wpc. which is plenty for what I am hoping to do with it. It's an integrated amp. Has lots of toggle switches, knobs and cool lit VU meters. Todays modern electronics don't have VU meters anymore... which I miss. Just something kinda cool about vintage gear and all the knobs and stuff.

Anyway.. the amp just arrived today.. hooked it up to the sound card from my Dell computer. via a Monster Y cable. I have a pair of RT1000i's hanging around.. hooked them up to the amp.. wow! It sounds very sweet so far. The amp doesn't even break a sweat, ever. According to the VU output meters... both speakers only draw about 2 to 5 wpc to drive the speakers. That should leave plenty of headroom if needed. Been listening to CD's for several hours now.

I am waiting for a Sansui AM/FM tuner to arrive late this week or next. This is my first voyage into vintage gear and separates.

Oh yeah the amp says it CAN handle 4ohm speakers. It has an "A" and "B" speakers selector switch. Says both can handle 4ohm speakers.. prob not at the same time. .. the thing would melt.. :p

Think how awesome this thing would sound with a pair of Cherry LSi9's???

Oh yeah it's a wood cabinent too. I really like the brushed metal look.. that was the big selling point.

ANyone looking for a second or third system... check out vintage gear.

[F1nut]

Looking good Al, I like silver faceplates too.

[gidrah]

I'd say that amp could even be called sexy. Silver and VU? Shoot!

What tuner are you getting? You may have said, but I skim posts and drink alot. I've got the TU-3900 (I think) that I really like. I swear it could can pull in Aljafrickinzeera on a good day.

[danger boy]

the tuner i got is. SANSUI STEREO TUNER T-M700 it's not my final one.. it's just to get me started for now.. till i can find one i really want. i heard good things about analog Sansui tuners. not to sure about the digital ones though. I only paid $25 for it. so we'll see.

[VR3]

I got a Digital one -------------------------------

VERY NICE. Some tips on the Antenna if it uses that old style.....

Wrap the patch cords on each end and you will get amazing signal. If nothing is touching it (STATIC)

Another thing, for it to remember the presets, it will probally need 2 AAA batteries. So heads up on that one as well.

NICE lookin piece there!

[danger boy]

Sid,

which tuner did you get? That thread is gone now. post a pic if you can. and i'll do the same with mine.

[VR3]

the Sansui T-9 ---------- I made a post about it earlier on in the electronics forum, you can find it...lol

Heres a pic.....

[RuSsMaN]

Get a cool Analog dial tuner, eff the Digital tuners.

An old NAD, Kenwood, Akai, etc.

[danger boy]

Russ,

I do plan on getting a analog tuner. the digital one i got is just a temp one. till the right one comes along for sale.

if you did your homework you'd know that the Sansui analogs are tops.. better than Pioneer, NAD, Kenwood, Marantz, Yamaha, and the others of their day. Thats for tuners, not amps, pre amps, or receivers.

[RuSsMaN]

Of course I know some of Sansui's are sought after, but the GOOD ones can run you $500 right there, which is OUT of your budget, no?

Tops? I dunno, some Fisher / Scott Tube tuner owners may beg to differ. I wouldn't say Sansui = tops around any Dynalab owners either.

Homework, man, I can't get ANY respect around here.

[TroyD]

Yeah Russ, wtf would you know anyway?

BDT

[danger boy]

tops can mean a lot of different things. with in the tuners you mentioned in your other post.. you didn't mention Scott or Fisher.

neener, neener, neeener. you're it.

And within reason. the Sansui's continually rank above more of the rest of that era.. outside of the extremely high end ones.

[danger boy]

here is my temp tuner. hasssssssssssn't arrived yet. prob next week.

[RuSsMaN]

Originally posted by danger boy
tops can mean a lot of different things. with in the tuners you mentioned in your other post.. you didn't mention Scott or Fisher.

I didn't mention them ahole, because you can't afford them. ;) On a budget (<$150), your BEST bet is the NAD 4020.

Christ, are we talking tunas or superconductors? Am I in the ****ing twilight zone?

Cheers,
Scorched Earth

[danger boy]

hey. how do you know i can't afford them?

[RuSsMaN]

Ok, I guess I AM in the ****ing zone.

You said $500 for the whole rig.

G'head, buy one, and stare at it. I'm done here.

Cheers,
Russ

[TroyD]

I like tunas.

I Prefer them packed in water. The pouches tend to be too dry and the oil, well too oily. Starkist over Chicken of the Sea. I mean how the hell do you get Chicken of the Sea as a brand name for tuna?

Cheers,

Baked Alaska

[RuSsMaN]

You don't know **** about Tuna.

I do, do YOU? I've sold and installed THOUSANDS of cans, and programmed the openers.

I can walk your dog to the supermarket, but only you can make him take a huge **** in the produce dept.

Cheers,
Rum Raisin

[TroyD]

Effin' glorified can opener.

Lemme consult my flavor of the month chart:

Bumble Bee and Heilman's.

When you ALMOST had one of your tuna layouts in Food&Wine magazine?

You got a big bag of nothing.


Cheers,

Horgust Hameflan

[TroyD]

I bet you thought I was going to say Starkist and Kraft, didn't you?

I think that the tanginess of the Kraft mates well with the laid back qualities of the Starkist.

Mofo probably mixes up his CotS with Miracle Whip.

Charlie Tuna

[dorokusai]

But do either of you know anything about an ES Tuna? :D

DB- I like the new gear. You did say $500 for whole rig...what did you mean whole rig tho'? Just the front end? Looks like you had speakers available already.

You may want to check out this site for some great tuner information:

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/#audiophile

The NAD, Scott, Dynalab are all real nice recommendations. Alot of manufacturers at that time made some real solid equipment. Some rebuilt Scott units go for close to 1K...now that's crazy.

A real upgrade for any tuner is a good antenna, with alot of sky to look at.

Check out Audio Advisor for some insanely priced tuners. :D

[danger boy]

i'd like to do this system for $500 or less.. yeah i do have a pair of speakers already.. but RT1000i's on a computer system rig? Damn. sounds nice. but it's over kill, or is that possible? LOL

I would like a nice pair of bookshelf speakers with decent bass. something like a nice three way design like the older Advents or Marantz's, or the like. BUt like everything... i'm keeping an open mind.

Someone recommended KHL model 17's. i read up about them.. they are on some people list ranked almost at the top in terms of sound quailty. So i was interested in trying a pair.. i should be able to find a pair if i am just patient enough...

The only things i want for this rig is the amp.. which i already got. speakers, and a tuner. No turntable at this time, no amps since the integrated doesn't have pre outs. But as usual... good quality interconnects are a must.

The goal really is a vintage system.. 2 channel only. I like the silver faceplates on the older stuff.

I'm not knocking any gear...but within what a reasonable person would spend on a tuner.. i keeping hearing that the black faced analog Sansui's sounds and perform the best. there again.. withing what a person would spend. Would a 1K tuner sound that much better than a $280 decent tuner? Used of course.

Tuners are one of those areas on here. I dont hear much discussion about.. I think tuners from what i've read.. are somewhat a thing of the past. unless you have gone seperates completely.

None of my friends have seperates systems... they all have receiver based systems..... like i do downstairs myself.

I've read that most or some seperate tuners sound better than a receivers tuner? that's what i'm wanting to explore here with this 2 ch. system.

In all seriouness.. i'm not doubting Russ's claims that the tuners he listed aren't good by any means. i'm sure they all have loyal followers. Fromwhat i've read only.. the Sansui's are what people are seeking in a tuner.

see pic below. nice huh? yeah it's not silver faceplate.. but damn. looks sweet?

[danger boy]

TU-919

[danger boy]

or this one TU-9900B

[Wardsweb]

Either one of the Sansui tuners you have shown will not only cost more than your entire budget but may double that. I sold my TU-919 recently and it went for $1125. You may want to look at a lower series like the TU-517 or TU-519. This should get the price down below $200.

[danger boy]

ok thanks i'lll look for some of those.. i've heard good things about the TU 717 or 719 as well. prob out of my budget too.

[glemay]

Just wondering but where could I find something like that amp with the output meters? I'd like to get my hands on a unit like that if the right one comes around. The output meters are awesome! Does anyone know of vintage receivers with the output meters?

[danger boy]

glemay,

I don't know of any receivers with output VU meters. there probably are some vintage ones out there.. mostly you'll find output level VU meters on amps and integrated amps. Haven't seen any on receivers though.

Check ebay. do a search on Kenwood, Yamaha, Pioneer, Akai, Marantz, Sony, for the vintage stuff.


good luck

[danger boy]

I scored a very mint pair of Monitor 7b's before Russ had a chance to get his paws on em. :D

Really looking forward to hearing these babies. I've heard so much about em.. now i want to hear for myself why everyone loves em so much.

They won't get here for a few weeks still. Shipping time is horrible.

Anyway. what's the difference between the 7a's, 7b's, and 7c's?

hasta la vista baby

[Pauly]

Originally posted by danger boy

Anyway. what's the difference between the 7a's, 7b's, and 7c's?

hasta la vista baby

Yeah good ? i have a pair of 7's that will be here wed. dont know if they are a,b or c. Russ (aka Bid Tuna;) ...any input